Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys Heermanni Morroensis) Recovery Plan Summary
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| Image From: The US Fish and Wildlife Service |
1. Summary of Description and Ecology of Organism
A. Subspecies Info
The Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat, or MBKR for short, is a subspecies of Heermann's Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys Heermanni) which is an endemic Californian species residing in between the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, Lake Tahoe, and the Pacific Ocean.
B. What It Looks Like
It's super cute and I want to squeeze them. But more accurately, the MBKR resembles the Heermann Rat with it's 'kangaroo-like' legs, 'rat-like' tail and size. The MBKR is more darkly-colored and smaller than the Heermann Rat. Additionally, it has been noted that the isolation from other subspecies of Heermann Rats has given it distinctive features different from the other subspecies such as size of claws, size of legs, and length of body.
C. Habits
The MBKR lives in burrows and form underground networks that are interconnected with each other. They are semi-social depending on age and gender but generally aren't very social with other MBKRs. Their main source of food is seeds.E. Reproduction
The MBKR reproduces, from what has been observed, in the Spring anywhere from March to May. They have one litter a year of about 30 young adorable pups but only about 20 survive. The average growth rate of the MBKR population and can reproduce up until August. In a 1989 Cal Poly reproductive program for the MBKR the growth rate was 18 percent over a 4 year study. This was a good inkling towards the future recovery of these adorable munchkins. |
| Image From: Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat Recovery Plan |
2. Geographic and Population Changes
A. Habitats
The main habitat for the MBKR is the soils surrounded by coastal dune scrub. Coastal dune scrub is made up of herbaceous and shrubby plants with shallow roots that use water close to the ground level. This is likely used as the ideal habitat because it decreases the temperature change in the soil that the MBKRs are using for their habitat.B. Specific distribution of species
Much is unknown about the exact distribution of the species. The MBKR is the only kangaroo rat that is completely isolated from the other 19 subspecies of kangaroo rat. Habitat degradation and vegetation changes have lead to some movement in MBKR distribution but it has historically been located in the wide area of the coastline associated with Morro bay. In recent years it has shrunk because of changing habitats to be only a portion of its historically more dispersed population. The only observed movement was in 1988 and used 18 animals to measure 23.9 +- 4.0 meters of radial distance in movement, though this number is a crude estimate because of the lack of observable individuals.C. Change in population over time
The MBKR has gone from an estimated 8,000 population size in 1957 to no more than 50 at the most recent estimate in 1986.3. Listing Date and Type of Listing
A. Listing
EndangeredB. Date
10/13/1970C. Listing type
6C: Very high priority for recovery but low possibility of recovery success.4. Cause of Listing and Main Threats to its Continued Existence
A. Habitat Destruction and Degradation in Morro Bay
Residential, agricultural, and commercial development projects degraded or destroyed most of the historic habitat range. The Pecho Site, a historically dense area for the MBKR, was plowed in 1956 with heavy machinery and while the plants have recovered the MBKR population could not recover from the degradation of habitat. In the late 1960's, other populated areas for the MBKR, like the Morro Palisades, were cleared for residential development. The plants were quick to recovery and the MBKR are estimated to still live in this area but with a decline in numbers after the development caused degradation in the 1960's.B. Lack of fitness
The specificity of habitat, diet, and reproductive requirements mean that the MBKR has a low level of fitness. Small changes to habitat, despite the habitat's rapid recovery, can drastically effect the numbers of MBKR because of their specificity and subsequent low fitness.5. Description of Recovery Plan
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A. Find existing population and remove individuals
In order for captive breeding to be successful, a higher number of reproductive individuals is needed. The recovery plan mentions that taking all of the living MBKRs may be necessary because of the minuscule population size.B. Captive Breeding
There have been successful captive breeding experiments at UC Berkley to breed the MBKR with the Lompoc Kangaroo Rat. To rapidly increase population size, it's recommended that breeding happens with the Lompoc Kangaroo Rat because this has been proven to be successful.C. Study of MBKR
When sufficient size of population has been achieved, a further level of understanding must then be worked towards. An understanding of the genetic differentiation, behavioral traits, and more accurate reproductive analysis is needed surrounding the MBKR so that they can be sustained easier and more effectively in the future.D. Re-release into sustainable habitat
When they have been sufficiently studied and documented, the MBKR should be released back into a habitat that has high potential for sustaining the population. This can mean that some of the privately owned MBKR habitat lands may need to be acquired by the US Fish and Wildlife Service so that detailed monitoring of initial re-release can take place.6. What can YOU do?
A. Help to make architects and developers more ecologically responsible and thoughtful
Residential developments on the MBKR historical sites can be dangerous. Even developments nearby can have disastrous climate effects especially with the habitat sensitivity of the MBKR. The link to the Morro Bay Mayor and City Council office is below if you're passionate and want to let your elected officials know that they should be protecting the MBKR. This is incredibly relevant. It's so important for all of us to lead the building industry towards positive and effective local sustainable building codes. If anything can motivate people to contact their representatives, it's super adorable animals.B. Be responsible with how you treat the environment at Poly because it can effect habitats of MBKR
Each of us can do more to limit our ecological footprint. The MBKR's burrows rely on a very small change in diurnal temperature but climate change can effect ground temperatures or ocean levels that can destroy or degrade the MBKR habitat.7. Other Resources
Availability of the Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys heermanni morroensis) Draft Revised Recovery Plan
Morro Bay City Council and Mayor's Office
Sources:
US Fish and Wildlife Service - https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=A03X
US Fish and Wildlife Service "What Can You Do?" - https://www.fws.gov/sacramento/es_species/Accounts/Amphibians-Reptiles/Documents/What_You_Can_Do.pdf
Recovery Plan for MBKR - https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/000125.pdf
Sources:
US Fish and Wildlife Service - https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=A03X
US Fish and Wildlife Service "What Can You Do?" - https://www.fws.gov/sacramento/es_species/Accounts/Amphibians-Reptiles/Documents/What_You_Can_Do.pdf
Recovery Plan for MBKR - https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/000125.pdf
It is sad that people have to choose so much of an area, like the Pecho Site, to build to the point that is causes a species like the Morro Bay kangaroo rat to become endangered. -David Murray
ReplyDeleteGood job! very thorough and informative blog. It's so sad to see such cool little animal on the brink of extinction. Humans never have concern for the animals that they are displacing, especially the little guys like this who go relatively unnoticed.
ReplyDelete-Megan Molloy